CJHokie

2 minutes ago, ftwildernessguy said:

Mine likes to rifle thru the clothes hamper and bring you dirty socks.

That's nice. 

6 minutes ago, ftwildernessguy said:

Nice retriever.

Well, she doesn't really live up to that name, but she's a good dog.  It goes a little like this: 1) you throw something and she ignores you, 2) she brings something when you're doing something else and then won't drop it, 3) you throw something and she returns it to someone else.  She turned 10 this summer and is having a hard time with one of her back legs. We have to lift her rear end to help her get into the motorhome. 

Just realized I need to update the map in my signature, but I can't remember how I did it. 

Got it!

6 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

LOL.

When will us men learn?

Great photos- thanks for sharing them.

TCD

It's funny - he always says I tell him the wrong thing, but I've come to realize he just doesn't listen to me, and if there is another man around when we are backing into a site, I will always let him take over.

I try to take pics of our campsite everywhere we go, but I'm not the best at photographing the actual campground. So here are some I took on our latest trip.

KOA Oceanside, Bar Harbor, ME  

We had a nice big grassy site with a great view for most of our time there. It was also super windy for all but one day. Not coincidentally, that same day the mosquitos were all over us.

No sewer hookups here, but they did have pump-out service available. I was not impressed with the showers. The dog park was away from the ocean and we only took our dog there one night because the mosquitos were eating us alive. And there were 3 male dogs there that were trying to attack her the whole time.

Here's the view.

Some nice sunsets over the water

Before there we stopped for a couple of nights at Bayley's camping resort in Scarborough, ME. Only have the one campsite pic.

Campsite was pretty large, gravel, and there was a grassy area behind us, between our row and the one behind. This is a very large campground and we didn't tow our Jeep, so we talked them into delivering firewood to us, but I had to ride my bike with a backpack to get ice, which was super expensive. They have a nice-looking new adult pool complex that we never made it to. They also had family pools but we didn't see those close up.

Before there, we stopped at Hershey for a few days. We were in a water/electric, and 30amp to boot. It was super hot but our ACs did ok. We were put at the end of a dead end row. It was kinda shocking at first, like how are we going to get in there. I suggested Mr. CJH back all the way up the row, but he was like, I'm not doing that. Then we had some helpful NJ truck drivers directing him in and they suggested he back all the way up the row, so he did. It ended up being a very nice, large spot.  The full hook-ups at the front of the park looked way cramped, so we were glad to be where we were. The showers were nice. 

Sensing a theme yet with the pics? We also stopped at a KOA in Va., but I will spare you that almost identical pic.

On 7/26/2016 at 0:30 PM, caveat lector said:

Thanks for sharing. I love seeing other RV parks. The real question is, did the kids find enough gems while panning, to pay for the campsote?

Haha, I first read that as "germs".

Currently making a set of these for some friends that just got a new camper. Will post a pic when I finish.

But..I forgot to post I made a whole bunch back in the spring for me & all my camping buddies. I wanted to pick coordinating fabric for the two to each person but then I wanted to have a different overall look for each person, so it was a challenge picking all the fabric, even with my extensive (some might say too large fabric) stash. So, here are my notes in case you want to make some.

The binding was a little tricky. I don't really like how I did it on the first ones, but I think these I'm working on now look better. The instructions say to machine sew to the front and then hand stitch to the back. Didn't like my hand stitching, so then I thought I'd just machine stitch the back. That would be great if I could see the front while doing it, because then I discovered it didn't always "stay in the lines". My mom suggested I sew to the back, then fold over and sew to the front because then I could see what I was doing and it wouldn't matter what the back looked like. So, that's what I ended up doing. This latest one though, I went back to the original tutorial instructions and think it looks better. 

I also wanted a loop on them in case someone wanted to hang it, so had to figure that out since it wasn't in the pattern and instructions. So, you can see in the pic I tried different locations for the loops. 

Oh, and they are supposed to have one layer of regular batting and one layer of insulated. I appliqued 4 with just the insulated layer before I realized I had missed something, so then my seam ripper got a LOT of use. So basically I zig-zagged 12 times.

My machine started skipping lots of stitches on the zig zag applique, so I would have to go and fill them in. Changed to a different kind of thread and that seemed to help.

Notice in the pic, somehow one of them was inverted.

I did not applique the scalloped part of the awning because a) I thought it looked better and 2) zig zagging around curves is really, really hard. I did apply fray-check to it.

So, lots of problems, and none of them look perfect, but I think everyone was happy. Even one of my friends who doesn't camp wants some. I do hope no one has to ever wash theirs. Not sure what will hold up and what won't!!

Haha, just noticed my dog in the back of the pic. She's always like a foot away from me!

Will post a pic of the other two when I finish.

59 minutes ago, CCIntrigue...aka Gwen said:

David always keeps the tank full, and we can go around 1,000 miles before having to refuel.  But we usually stop once on the way down for fuel anyway (whichever state is cheapest at the time) and then refuel on the way home at the last Flying J we pass -- Rock Hill, SC.

We always stop at that one, too! Maybe we'll see you some day. ;-)

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I personally wouldn't do it because it'd be a hassle getting there and how much candy do you need. However, the neighborhood I grew up in was a circle and tons of people would just drop their kids off from elsewhere and let them walk around the whole thing.  So, it's not that foreign of a concept to me. I camp every Halloween in a much smaller campground but take candy and give it out to any kids that come by, just like if I were at home. 

If I lived near the Fort but didn't have a lot of neighbors or was in a not great neighborhood, I would want to take my kids to a reasonably safe place with a good volume of homes, and Ft. W fits the bill. Add to that the awesome decorations, and it sounds great. 

I do not agree with the organizing of large groups though. You gotta keep that stuff quiet.

On 8/3/2016 at 11:21 AM, disneylitch......Debbie said:

Gwen,

They make compression socks that go from the foot to the groin.  My daughter had to wear them when she was pregnant because of a varicose vein that ran from her groin to her ankle.  Maybe this will help.

Yeah, when I had shoulder surgery they gave me some and made me wear them for like 3 days. They look like white thigh highs.  I did save them. Should probably wear them on trips, but since I don't really drive, I can get up and move around whenever.

We did 650 miles one day on our return trip from ME. Mr. CJHokie does all the driving and he does not like to drive in the dark because he apparently needs glasses, so we usually don't go that long.

I would wait 10 minutes at the most. I also set a timer just in case I get busy and forget to come back. If those people don't, they're the ones with bad etiquette. Last spring break (Camp Gulf in FL) someone left 2 dryers full for a long time and I was getting ready to just dump them in a cart, but this other lady decided to fold it for them. The lady finally came in like 40 minutes after I got there (who knows how long they were stopped). She looked a little confused for a sec, then grabbed her stacks of folded laundry and left without saying a word. 

I wouldn't bank on using the ice machine at the CS. When we were there last Christmas (loop 500, I think), we lost money in it twice. We had reported it and hoped they fixed it but they obviously didn't. My point is, they may or may not give you any ice back when you put your money in.

I'm sorry, someone who doesn't use the proper there/their/they're is homeschooling their children?

15 hours ago, McMonsters..........Kelly said:

Very cool! I sew and have done some machine quilting before the kids took up all my spare time. Now I mostly do doll clothes and kid dresses. I wish I could get back into quilting, the piecing is very calming.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, haven't done a lot of piecing, but I find sewing in general relaxing. 

Just back from a camping trip to Maine, where I picked up 2 more patterns, and then I got home and had one waiting in the mail from Derek!

Still have a couple around Charlotte to get, am waiting on my Mom & bro to pick up a couple in NETN, and plan on making a day trip to Mt. Airy (Mayberry). 

I'm going to be busy! Luckily it's 1000 degrees here and I don't want to leave the house. :D

I have a couple I've used in soccer & tennis.  They definitely cool you down. I never remember I have them though.

Athletic/running shoes make my feet really tired after like an hour, so I usually wear Sanuk flip flops. Have worn Croc flips and just got some Olukais that I would definitely wear.

I have some friends and relatives that swear by Chacos but I have never tried any on.

5 hours ago, Beckers said:

I briefly met Derek and his momma. Totally safe! 

Well, if you met his momma, I guess that's good enough for me. ;-) Thanks!

21 hours ago, Beckers said:

Most of them aren't attractive at all lol. Leave it up to the places by me to be disappointing lol.

 

good luck with you rows and post pics!!!

Haha, there are some disappointing ones around me, too!  

Thanks, I did finish one and looked at the other 3 patterns I have .They look really hard and I need some more supplies.  

So, this one is from Culpeper, VA. I wasn't sure why they have a checkerboard, but the pattern said something about soap box derby there, so I guess that's why.  The pattern said to put the letters wherever you want, and I really couldn't come up with a symmetrical way to not bother my OCD. Of course after I was finished I looked on the VA FB group and saw they got it to work by skipping every other square.   Also, maybe if I were taller, I could fit the whole row in my camera screen.

22 hours ago, Cortezcapt (Derek) said:

I'm not far from the Palmetto Florida shop if I'd be more than happy to get the one there for you. It's a camper on the beach with manatees I think.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

That one's really cute. That would be awesome if it's not that far out of your way. They might try to sell you a kit with the fabric for it, but the free pattern only is fine.  I will PM you my address.  Unless you are a psychopathic internet predator, and then I will have to move. 

1 hour ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Me too Beckers.  There are a lot with a camping theme on them.

Yes, with the Home Sweet Home theme, a lot of shops went with campers. Makes sense to me.   A lot of shops have used bee hives and birdhouses. While I get what they're going for, not my fave.  Sevierville has a cool one with a cave, 2 bears, and a camper. 

This one is awesome. Scroll down just a bit and you'll see it.  Alas, it is like 4 hours from me.  Murphy, NC

10 hours ago, Beckers said:

I looked up the 3 shops by me (mt holly, Burlington and collingswood) nothing cool like Harry Potter but if you want any of them let me know and I'll get them for you.

Thanks so much for the offer! I could only find 2 of those and they weren't my favorite, but I do appreciate.  I was like, this FB page is crazy, it has 3 states on one, but then I see there's only a handful of shops in DE & NJ.  I have like 8 within a reasonable drive (I'd say they are all Charlotte Metro area) of me, but some are just meh.  FL has like a million, but my SILs are in Jax and all the good ones are gulf or way down south.  

Almost finished with my first row yesterday, from Culpeper, VA.  I will post pics as I complete rows, or maybe I'll wait until I have a completed quilt. No, that may take a long time.

Anyone else heard of this or participating? It's a quilting thing. I've been sewing for a couple of years but never actually made a quilt. Thought I'd start with this!  It's a contest, but I have no aspirations of winning. 

Basically, there are tons of participating quilt shops in the US, Canada, and even some in UK.  Each shop has designed a row (some did 2 or 3) based on a certain theme, and 8 rows make a quilt. You have to visit the quilt shop to get the free pattern - they will not do online as the purpose of the experience is to draw in traffic. This year the theme is Home Sweet Home, and my local shop being a mile or two from the speedway in Concord, NC, designed a race track with triangle cars going around. It looks pretty hard, so I'm saving it for last.  I got a couple in Boone, NC, last weekend, and had some in-laws mail me stuff from their hometowns (the Memphis one is awesome - has Elvis & Graceland on it.)  A shop in Chattanooga has 2 awesome Harry Potter ones, but no one I know is going there any time soon.  

This runs 6/21-9/6, and sometimes the shops will sell leftover kits online after the end date. I have seen a ton with cute vintage-looking campers on them. I have a lead on one with another in-law.

Anyway, just thought if there were anyone here that might find it interesting and didn't already know about it, I would share!

Here's the website: Row by Row  Also, each state has their own FB page (just search that state's name & row by row experience), where they have pics to all the different rows available in their state (in no organized order), sometimes a map showing all locations, and they've been posting pics of winners with their finished products. One lady in TN actually got 8 rows and finished her quilt in less than 24 hrs.!

My motion-challenged friends & I all prefer Bonine over Dramamine.